The State Department approved a possible $1.5 billion Foreign Military Sale (FMS) request to Japan for DDG 7 and 8 Aegis Combat System (ACS), Underwater Weapon System (UWS), Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) and associated parts and logistical support.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the potential sale on August 4.
The primary contractor would be Lockheed Martin [LMT] per a sole source request as the primary AEGIS system contractor for Japanese fiscal years 2015 and 2016 DDG class ships. Japan requested Data Link Solutions to be designated as the sole source prime contractor for the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) on Ships (MOS) to reduce the cost of sparing and logistics for its AEGIS ships, DSCA said.
DSCA noted in a statement “there are also a significant number of companies under contract with the U.S. Navy that will provide components and systems as well as engineering services during the execution of this effort.”
The requested FMS would include two ship sets of the MK 7 Aegis weapon system, AN/SQQ-89A (v) 15J UWS and CEC. Additional items include associated equipment, training and support for its Japanese fiscal years 2015 and 2016 new construction destroyers (DDGs). The ACS and associated support would be procured over a six to seven year period, as approved by Japan in budgets for its fiscal years 2015 and 2016.
The ACS/UWS/CEC systems support ship construction for a new ship class of DDGs based on a modified Atago-class hull and a new propulsion system (the ship class is not yet named). Equipment and services to be provided include two ship sets of installation support material and special purpose test equipment, in addition to the systems engineering, technical services, on-site vendor assistance, spare parts, systems training and staging services necessary to support ship construction and delivery. Post-construction Combat System Qualification Testing is expected to be procured in a future FMS.
Major Defense Equipment (MDE) in the sale would include two AEGIS Weapon Systems (AWS) MK 7 and one J7 AWS Computer Program.
Other MDE would include two ship sets each of the following: Multi-Mission Signal Processor (MMSP), AN/MK8 MOD4 AEGIS Common Display System (CDS), AN/SPQ-15 Digital Video Distribution System and Common Processor System (CPS), AWS Computing Infrastructure MK 1 MOD4, Operational Readiness Test System (ORTS) hosted in AWS computing infrastructure, MK 99 MOD 8 Fire Control Systems, AN/SPG-62A Radar, Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) including Mission Planner blade server processors hosted in the CPS, Kill Assessment System/Weapon Data Recording Cabinets (KAS/WDRC), Mode 5/S capable Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) System, MK 36 MOD 6 Decoy Launching System, AN/SQQ-89A (V) 15 Underwater Surveillance and Communication System, Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) Navigation systems with OE-553/U antenna, AN/SSN-6F (V) 4 Navigation Sensor System Interface (NAVSSI), WSN-7(V) Inertial Navigation System (INS), AN/URC-141(V) 3(C) Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Radio Set, AN/UYQ-86(V) 6 Common Data Link Management System (CDLMS), AN/SQQ-89A (v) 15J UWS, Gigabit Ethernet Data Multiplex System (GEDMS), Maintenance Assist Modules (MAMs) cabinets for Fire Control and Combat Systems equipment, and Multi-Function Towed Array (MFTA) and associatedOK-410(V)3/SQR handling equipment.
The FMS also includes two ship sets of Vertical Launching System (VLS), Launch Control Units (LCU) MK 235 Mod 9 with Vertical Launching System (VLS) Global Positioning System (GPS) Integrator (VGI), Gun Weapon System MK 34, MK 20 Electro-Optical Sensor System (EOSS), Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC), Global Command and Control System-Maritime (GCCS-M), AN/SPQ-9B Radar, Enhanced AEGIS Combat Systems Trainer (ACTS) with communication suite, and two ship sets of technical documentation.
Other MDE includes, MK41 components for Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) launcher to support BMD missions employing the Standard Missile 3 (SM-3), VLS launcher components including 24 MK 448 Mod 1 Motor Control Panel, four Programmable Power Supplies MK179 Mod 0, 24 Launch Sequencers MK 5 Mod 1, four Fiber Optic Distribution Boxes (FODB), and 24 Single Module Junction Boxes.
Japan would use the new Aegis DDGs to add more flexibility and capability to counter regional threats and continue to enhance stability in the region, DSCA said.
“The addition of two (2) new AEGIS DDGs will fulfill Japan’s mission goal of acquiring eight (8) ballistic missile defense capable ships and will further enhance interoperability with the U.S. Navy, build upon a longstanding cooperative effort with the United States, and provide enhanced capability with a valued partner in a geographic region of critical importance to Japan and the U.S. government,” DSCA highlighted.
The agency also noted Japan will effectively employ this capabilities because it currently operates Aegis ships and is proficient at using evolving ballistic missile defense capability, so that it “will capably assimilate this technology into its operations.”
Japanese industry has requested the participation of U.S. industry as sub-contractors in the FMS on a limited basis to provide selected components and software. The Japanese industry sourced items include TR-343 Equivalent Replacement Sonar Transducers for SQS-53C sonar by NEC, Partial AEGIS Display System application software by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), and Partial AEGIS Display System Hardware and Common Display System hardware by Fujitsu.
Products sources from Japan would be subject to product qualification, export control or other requirements for use in FMS-provided systems. The U.S. Navy retains the option to use U.S. Navy Programs of Record to source products or services as required to meet program requirements.
There are no known offset agreements for the FMS.
Implementation of the FMS would require the travel of U.S. government or contractor representatives to Japan on a temporary basis for program technical support and management oversight.